Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Posted each Thursday, Lectionary Ruminations focuses on the Scripture Readings, taken from the New Revised Standard Version, for the following Sunday per the Revised Common Lectionary. Comments and questions are intended to encourage reflection for readers preparing to teach, preach, or hear the Word. Reader comments are invited and encouraged. All lectionary links are to the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible via the PC(USA) Devotions and Readings website, but if you prefer another translation, feel free to use that instead. (Other references may be linked to the NRSV via the oremus Bible Browser.)

v. 1 what do you know about all the different players; the chief priests, the elders, the scribes, and the whole council?

v. 2 Did Pilate say that Jesus was the King of the Jews?

v. 10 Was Pilate’s analysis correct. Was it jealousy that really motivated the chief priests?

vs. 16-23 I think John Shelby Spong makes a strong argument for reading this as Midrash of Psalm22.

v. 21 Why are Simon, Alexander and Rufus named?

v. 32 I know this is Mark, but I hear echoes of the ending of John.

v. 34 Where have we heard or seen Jesus’ words before?

v. 38 What symbolic statement is being made?

v. 39 What is the irony here?

ADDENDUM

In addition to serving as the half time Pastor of North Church Queens and writing Lectionary Ruminations, I also tutor part time. If you or someone you know needs a tutor, or if you would like to be a tutor, check out my WyzAnt page and follow the appropriate links.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Posted each Thursday, Lectionary Ruminations focuses on the Scripture Readings, taken from the New Revised Standard Version, for the following Sunday per the Revised Common Lectionary. Comments and questions are intended to encourage reflection for readers preparing to teach, preach, or hear the Word. Reader comments are invited and encouraged. All lectionary links are to the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible via the PC(USA) Devotions and Readings website, but if you prefer another translation, feel free to use that instead. (Other references may be linked to the NRSV via the oremus Bible Browser.)

In addition to serving as the half time Pastor of North Church Queens and writing Lectionary Ruminations, I also tutor part time. If you or someone you know needs a tutor, or if you would like to be a tutor, check out my WyzAnt page and follow the appropriate links.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Posted each Thursday, Lectionary Ruminations focuses on the Scripture Readings, taken from the New Revised Standard Version, for the following Sunday per the Revised Common Lectionary. Comments and questions are intended to encourage reflection for readers preparing to teach, preach, or hear the Word. Reader comments are invited and encouraged. All lectionary links are to the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible via the PC(USA) Devotions and Readings website, but if you prefer another translation, feel free to use that instead. (Other references may be linked to the NRSV via the oremus Bible Browser.)

v. 6 Why would the Lord send poisonous snakes. Maybe the people needed St. Patrick as their leader rather than Moses.

vs. 8-9 What do you know about the psychological and spiritual symbolism of the rod of Asclepius? What might Carl Jung have said about this passage? Is there anything idolatrous about what Moses has fashioned? Where might you find a reference to this passage in the Christian Scriptures?

v. 14 You gotta love John! You may want to look at what John Sanford has to say about this passage in his Jungian/Psychological commentary on John entitled Mystical Christianity. Who is speaking in this verse?

v. 16 Why do so many people quote this verse while ignoring the two before? What is the meaning of “gave”?

v. 17 So why does so much of popular Christianity sound condemnatory? What is the meaning of “the world”?

v. 18 What is the source of condemnation?

v.19 How can we talk about light and darkness while avoiding racial overtones? Is “shadows” a better image than “darkness”?

ADDENDUM

In addition to serving as the half time Pastor of North Church Queens and writing Lectionary Ruminations, I also tutor part time. If you or someone you know needs a tutor, or if you would like to be a tutor, check out my WyzAnt page and follow the appropriate links.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Posted each Thursday, Lectionary Ruminations focuses on the Scripture Readings, taken from the New Revised Standard Version, for the following Sunday per the Revised Common Lectionary. Comments and questions are intended to encourage reflection for readers preparing to teach, preach, or hear the Word. Reader comments are invited and encouraged. All lectionary links are to the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible via the PC(USA) Devotions and Readings website, but if you prefer another translation, feel free to use that instead. (Other references may be linked to the NRSV via the oremus Bible Browser.)

v. 1 How do the heavens speak?Is there any difference between the heavens and the firmament?Is the Glory of God the same as God’s handiwork?

vs. 2-4d What do you make of these verses? What are they saying?

v. 4c Do these verses presume a pre-Copernican universe?

vs. 7-9 How many synonyms do you see for “law”? Is ”fear” in anyway a synonym for” law”?

v. 10 At the close of the market on March 7, 2012, Gold was trading for $1,683.30 an ounce. How sweet is honey? Was there any other known sweetener at the time of the psalmist?

v. 11 What is the reward? Does this verse lead to works righteousness?

v. 12 Do not forget the advice of the oracle at Delphi. Know thyself.

v. 13 Who are the insolent?

v. 14 Pet Peeve Alert! This is not a Prayer for Illumination. Displays of personal piety by praying a personal prayer aloud have no place in the lectern or pulpit before preaching or the classroom before teaching. If you want to pray this silently before you preach or teach, fine, but I do not want to hear you pray aloud for yourself.

v. 14 Why would anyone sell cattle, sheep or doves in the temple? Why were money changers presentin the temple?

v. 15 Did Jesus drive out only the sheep and the cattle?

v. 16 What is wrong with God’s house being a marketplace?

v. 17 Where is this written?

v. 18 See 1 Corinthians 1:22

v. 21 Does this verse add to or detract from the account?

v.22 What was it about the resurrection that reminded the disciples about anything Jesus said? What “scripture”?

ADDENDUM

In addition to serving as the half time Pastor of North Church Queens and writing Lectionary Ruminations, I also tutor part time. If you or someone you know needs a tutor, or if you would like to be a tutor, check out my WyzAnt page and follow the appropriate links.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Posted each Thursday, Lectionary Ruminations focuses on the Scripture Readings, taken from the New Revised Standard Version, for the following Sunday per the Revised Common Lectionary. Comments and questions are intended to encourage reflection for readers preparing to teach, preach, or hear the Word. Reader comments are invited and encouraged. All lectionary links are to the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible via the PC(USA) Devotions and Readings website, but if you prefer another translation, feel free to use that instead. (Other references may be linked to the NRSV via the oremus Bible Browser.)

v. 33 Why did Jesus look at the disciples, rather than looking at Peter, when he rebuked Peter? What might the multi-faceted meaning of “Get behind me Satan”?

v. 34 What cross?

v. 35 I think this is the kernel of wisdom in the husk of this passage.

v. 38 who might Jesus have in mind when he refers to those who are ashamed of him?

ADDENDUM

In addition to serving as the half time Pastor of North Church Queens and writing Lectionary Ruminations, I also tutor part time. If you or someone you know needs a tutor, or if you would like to be a tutor, check out my WyzAnt page and follow the appropriate links.